I Think Choptober Changed My Brain Chemistry.

I'm still digging out from Choptober (going through a bunch of early-2000's-esque pictures, putting my toothbrush back where it belongs. Staring at an axe that I should not have purchased but GAWD it's so pretty I couldn't let it go back to the UK), but I did want to scratch out a post sooner than later.

It's difficult to sum up a 3 day (for me) event, so I'll go through kinda the mental highlights and my overall thoughts. Is that alright? Is that okay, dear reader? I wish I had one of them reporter/robot brains but I haven't one, so instead you're gonna get a kinda paintbrush style of explanation.

CHOPTOBER HAS BECOME MY FAVORITE AXE THROWING EVENT OF THE YEAR

I have not been to many tourneys outside of my own little axe house, but I've been to some of the big ones. Urban Open, IATC...uh...

...another Urban one, probably...

But Choptober was something entirely different. There were some really challenging, talented throwers, but it never felt like something very serious. It had that umami of lighthearted fun and challenging matches. Of Jell-O shots and discussions about the physics of wrist movement. And while I knew some of the people there, certainly, I made so many more introductions to people I've admired for some time and just haven't worked up the courage to interact with.

I think the location of Chopper's helped, too. I mean, a strip mall doesn't sound like it's particularly enjoyable--until you need something.

Hungry but don't want what Chopper's is serving? At least 3 choices in immediate walking distance.

Forgot your cup of coffee? Well, friend, there's a Dunkin' Donuts in the parking lot.

Need a bunch of plastic plates for some reason? DOLLAR TREE NEXT DOOR BAYBEEEEE.

It made everything so dang convenient. I found that I dipped out of Choptober a few times just to get a breather, but realistically I could have stayed and had everything I needed at my little fingertips.

The event itself was run well (as well as any axe throwing event can be), but that's kinda a boring thing to cover so I'm only gonna do this one line about it.

I pet this pup on the hour, every hour.

THINGS THAT WERE INTERESTING I LEARNED

For one thing, Choptober was the most community-y community feeling tourney I've experienced. It was like a high-school reunion that somehow avoided the quiet desperation of a 45-year-old trying to finally hook up with their high school crush via over-emphasizing achievements in upselling Jamba Juice cup sizes.

I also made it a point to watch how the really consistent throwers did their thing, and picked up some interesting regional differences (the UK folks do a sort of full-step, full-arm extension, quick-wrist-flick move I hadn't seen before, and I'm gonna experiment with it in the future. The Aussies had a very flow-y, almost "one movement" style of throwing. Boston had a sort of "one more beer" sort of throw).

Finally, I learned that getting your own hotel room is basically the secret sauce (for me) in making the entire experience more enjoyable. Or, to put a more clear point on it: having a fortress of solitude where I could fully recharge after each day made a world of difference.

There is no better medicine than eating sweet and sour chicken with one's pants off whilst watching Storage Wars.

THE OVERWHELM

I get overwhelmed at tourneys. You know this. I know this. But this time it was different.

The overwhelm I got was (and this will sound self-serving but honestly I need to document it) one of gratitude.

For the first time, I threw as part of a team (Yahtzee), and my team mates made the whole tourney one that I will remember until the end of my days. Otter Guy (AKA the Appalachian Gentleman, AKA Rob) is of course an absolute pleasure to hang out with and throw with, but I didn't know what to expect with the international element of our team.

As it turns out, Pebbles and Tex were, in every regard, wonderful. They were funny and kind, gracious and even-tempered. They made the Yahtzee tourney a freaking blast and we laughed the entire time. Honestly it was the most fun I had throwing in a long, long time.

But more than that, Pebbles and Tex were...Geez. How do I put this without sounding like a dippy egg? You know what, I'll just say it: They made my heart glow.

Both Aussie throwers pointed out and reminded me what I do here on the blog has, perhaps, more value than I give it credit for. They were so open and welcoming and patient with my foibles, they were so friendly and kind that I felt, TRULY AND NO BULLSHIT, we were friends before ever meeting each other.

And while the freaking amazing battle vests they (well, really that Pebbles made, with Tex having the idea) made for Rob and I are truly one of the best gifts I've ever received (yes, I cried, back off), Tex also gave me a bracelet that reads "Throw However" on it. And Pebbles told me a personal story about how one of my posts (the throw however one, duh) made a big impact when they needed it - and, friend, that threw me in a way that I don't fully understand. I'd say it's still throwing me.

I'm thrown.

Add to that the community at large, my outstanding meadery crew (Willie, Rob, Rob), and you've got one of the most pleasant experiences around. Even when we accidentally go to a fancy Italian place looking like trash (except for Willie, who was the only respectable one among us).

OH I GUESS I THREW AGAINST REALLY STRONG THROWERS AS WELL.

I feel like this is the least interesting part, but here goes: I threw against very, very good throwers and immediately went 0-2 on Saturday. Then was eliminated in my first match during the 0-2 tourney. So there's that.

But - again, something kinda magic happened to me: I didn't care? Like - I would have liked to throw more, but I also was really satisfied with how I was throwing (maybe not the first match, but certainly my second match). So I didn't get that grumpy, small feeling of not winning matches. I threw, I had a good time. I got to throw my new big axe a few times during my second match and it felt good. So like, what's to complain about? I went up against champs in this sport and didn't bare my ass to anyone, so that's pretty great, really.

Moreover, tourneys (at this point, at least) are more about blanketing myself in the sport, supporting people who make it great, and day drinking. Check, check, check, you dig? I nailed it.

More to come in the next few weeks, including interviews, thought experiments, and other such ephemera. But for now, I hope you at least got a little flavor.